Long Range Transport of Asian Dust from Dust Storms and its Impact on Japan

We simulated the long range transport of dust emitted from dust storms that occurred in China by using a global three-dimensional chemical transport model. A modified dust emission flux scheme and a nonlocal diffusion scheme for determining the atmospheric eddy diffusivity in the atmospheric boundary layer were implemented to improve the chemical transport model. We examined the dust transport by comparing the model results with TOMS satellite images. The model calculated monthly total deposition of dust masses were used for comparison with the measurements collected at sampling stations in Japan, and good agreement was found. The model generally reproduced the temporal and spatial variations of dust reasonably well.     

Efforts to develop regulations in Korea similar to the US maximum achievable control technology (MACT) regulations for hazardous waste incinerators

The development of regulations patterned after the United States’ requirement for maximum achievable control technology (MACT) to control hazardous air pollutants from major industrial sources in Korea is in progress. Current management practices and installed air pollution control devices were surveyed; emission tests and continuous emission data collected from facilities under operation were assessed considering other MACT requirements such as reporting, report keeping requirements. Emission sampling and air pollutant analysis were carried out at representative hazardous waste incinerators installed with wet-type and dry-type air pollution control devices. Korean and United States Environmental Protection Agency methods were used for sampling and analysis. The major heavy metals emitted were Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cr. The heavy metal removal efficiency of existing air pollution control devices was greater than 99%. The average mercury removal efficiency was more than 30%. Toluene; m,p-xylene; o-xylene; benzene; dichloromethane; styrene; ethylbenzene; 1,3-dichlorobenzene; and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were the major volatile organic compounds emitted. The emissions from field tests were compared, reviewed, and analyzed with respect to MACT regulations to check applicability. Finally, draft guidelines were suggested for effective hazardous air pollutant management in Korea.     

Mechanical–Thermal Properties and VOC Emissions of Natural-Flour-Filled Biodegradable Polymer Hybrid Bio-Composites

The mechanical–thermal properties and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of natural-flour-filled, biodegradable polymer bio-composites were investigated according to variation in porous inorganic filler types. At a porous inorganic filler content of 3%, the tensile and flexural strengths of the hybrid bio-composites were not significant changed. However, the coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal expansion of the bio-composites were slightly decreased. Furthermore, the incorporation of the porous inorganic materials into bio-composites slightly increased the E’ values of the hybrid bio-composites over the entire temperature range, although the tan δ_max temperature (T _g) of the hybrid bio-composites was not significantly changed. At a porous inorganic filler content of 3%, the various odor and VOC emissions of the hybrid bio-composites were significantly decreased because the various oxidation and thermal degradation gases of the natural flour and matrix were absorbed in the pore structures of the porous inorganic fillers and thereby prevented the migration into the final products.     

Leaching studies for tin recovery from waste e-scrap

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the most essential components of all electrical and electronic equipments, which contain noteworthy quantity of metals, some of which are toxic to life and all of which are valuable resources. Therefore, recycling of PCBs is necessary for the safe disposal/utilization of these metals. Present paper is a part of developing Indo-Korean recycling technique consists of organic swelling pre-treatment technique for the liberation of thin layer of metallic sheet and the treatment of epoxy resin to remove/recover toxic soldering material. To optimize the parameters required for recovery of tin from waste PCBs, initially the bench scale studies were carried out using fresh solder (containing 52.6% Sn and 47.3% Pb) varying the acid concentration, temperature, mixing time and pulp density. The experimental data indicate that 95.79% of tin was leached out from solder material using 5.5M HCl at fixed pulp density 50g/L and temperature 90°C in mixing time 165min. Kinetic studies followed the chemical reaction controlled dense constant size cylindrical particles with activation energy of 117.68kJ/mol. However, 97.79% of tin was found to be leached out from solder materials of liberated swelled epoxy resin using 4.5M HCl at 90°C, mixing time 60min and pulp density 50g/L. From the leach liquor of solder materials of epoxy resin, the precipitate of sodium stannate as value added product was obtained at pH 1.9. The Pb from the leach residue was removed by using 0.1M nitric acid at 90°C in mixing time 45min and pulp density 10g/L. The metal free epoxy resin could be disposed-of safely/used as filling material without affecting the environment.     

The Reduction of Stranded Oil by In Situ Shoreline Treatment Options

The Svalbard Shoreline Field Trials quantified the effectiveness of sediment relocation, mixing, bioremediation, bioremediation combined with mixing, and natural attenuation as options for the in situ treatment of oiled mixed-sediment (sand and pebble) shorelines. These treatments were applied to oiled plots located in the upper beach at three experimental sites, each with different sediment character and wave-energy exposure. Systematic monitoring was carried out over a 400-day period to quantify oil removal and to document changes in the physical character of the beach, oil penetration, oil loading, movements of oil to the subtidal environment, biodegradation, toxicity, and to validate oil-mineral aggregate formation.The results of the monitoring confirmed that sediment relocation significantly accelerated the rate of oil removal and reduced oil persistence where oil was stranded on the beach face above the level of normal wave activity. Where the stranded oil was in the zone of wave action, sediment relocation accelerated the short-term (weeks) rate of oil loss from the intertidal sediments.Oil removal rates on a beach treated by mechanical mixing or tilling were not significantly higher than those associated with natural recovery. However there is evidence that mixing/tilling may have enhanced microbial activity for a limited period by increasing the permeability of the sediment.Changes in the chemical composition of the oil demonstrated that biodegradation was significant in this arctic environment and a bioremediation treatment protocol based on nutrient enrichment effectively doubled the rate of biodegradation. However, on an operational scale, the success of this treatment strategy was limited as physical processes were more important in causing oil loss from the beaches than biodegradation, even where this oil loss was stimulated by the bioremediation protocols.     

Reuse of Selected Lignocellulosic and Processed Biomasses as Sustainable Sources for the Fabrication of Nanocellulose via Ni(II)-Catalyzed Hydrolysis Approach: A Comparative Study

This study investigates for the first time the feasibility of isolating nanocellulose from several selected feedstocks via a novel Ni(II)-hydrolysis process, including lignocellulosic biomasses (oil palm trunk, banana peel and coconut husk) and processed biomasses (newspaper, tissue paper and cotton linter), with an obtained gravimetric yield ranging from 59.6 to 86.2%. The isolation of nanocellulose products from these selected feedstocks was verified by the successive removal of most of their non-cellulosic components (lignin and hemicellulose) and cellulose amorphous regions, the increase in the crystallinity index and the nanoscale of the individual crystals. Most importantly, the resultant nanocellulose products rendered better thermal stability than that of corresponding original sources, which are highly potential to be utilized as the new renewable sources of reinforcement materials with potential applications in bio-nanocomposites and thermoplastics. Therefore, this work proves the viability of direct production of nanocellulose from a variety of cellulosic sources by using Ni(II)-based transition metal salt catalyst. The results suggested that the concept of waste to wealth could be well executed from the obtained nanocellulose, which are greatly potential for various industrial applications.     

Comparative study on leachate in closed landfill sites: focusing on seasonal variations

This article is intended to provide background information on leachate management in closed landfill sites based on a comparison of two landfill sites and the identification of leachate characteristics depending on the final cover and the season. Site S is older and has no final cover, while site J is younger and has final capping. The results of leachate analysis from the two landfills show that the biological oxygen demand to chemical oxygen demand ratio decreases below 0.1 to the range 0.05–0.07 for site S, whereas the ratio at site J was in the range 0.08–0.55. The inorganic nitrogen concentration was in the range 169.9–386.1 mg/l with an average of 265.2 mg/l at site S. Ammonia nitrogen accounted for 98.9% of the total nitrogen. The absence of a final cover on closed landfill sites may contribute to the stabilization of such landfills due to flushing. The nitrogen content at landfill S dropped in the summer, whereas it decreased in the fall at site J. A higher fluctuation in the pollutant levels of organic matters and nitrogen at the younger landfill site was observed, compared to the older site, even though the younger site had final capping. Therefore, intensive leachate management should be arranged at the early stages after closing for proper treatment. Specifically, nitrogen management of leachate is a critical factor in treatment operations.